US joins UN for a ceasefire demand in Eastern Ghouta

AgenciesWashingtonThe United States demanded Thursday that the Syrian regime and Russian forces put an end to their latest round of air strikes and alleged chemical attacks against besieged civilians.In a statement from the State Department, Washington threw its weight behind a UN call for a ceasefire in rebel-held Eastern Ghouta and demanded that Moscow rein in its ally."These attacks must end now,"spokeswoman Heather Nauert said."The United States is extremely concerned about escalating violence in Idlib, the Damascus suburbs of Eastern Ghouta and other areas of Syria threatened by ongoing regime and Russian airstrikes."We are yet again appalled by the recent reports of the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons and the escalation of bombings that has resulted in dozens of civilian deaths in the last 48 hours.""The United States supports the United Nations calling for a month-long cessation of violence to allow the delivery of humanitarian supplies and the urgent medical evacuation of over 700 civilians in Eastern Ghouta,"Nauert said."Russia must use its influence with Damascus to ensure the Syrian regime immediately allows the UN to provide vital assistance to this extremely vulnerable population."Meanwhile Pentagon said that, United States is not looking for a conflict with Syrian government forces but has a right to self-defense, the Pentagon said on Thursday."Our forces have the inherent right of self defense. We are not looking for a conflict with the regime," Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White told a news briefing.

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Jisreen: Four days of ferocious Syrian government raids on the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta have killed more than 200 civilians, a war monitor said on Thursday. Syrian government troops have since Monday waged ..

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AFP United Nations Russia on Thursday dismissed as"unrealistic"a UN appeal for a month-long humanitarian ceasefire in Syria, where four days of government raids have killed scores of civilians. "That is not ..